Telangana irrigation sector suffered as CM has zero knowledge of river waters: KTR
BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of crippling Telangana’s irrigation sector through incompetence and inaction, alleging deliberate stalling of key projects and betrayal of farmers’ interests
Hyderabad: Decrying the downturn in Telangana’s irrigation sector, BRS working president KT Rama Rao stated that the all-important sector in the State suffered for the past two years as the Chief Minister had “zero knowledge” of river waters, while the Irrigation Minister remained “dangerously ignorant”.
While felicitating newly elected sarpanches and ward members in Nalgonda district on Tuesday, he alleged that the Congress government had deliberately blocked the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project. Launching a blistering attack on the government for its inaction, he said the Congress had no answers and was resorting to dramas as BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao decided to go all out over the government failures. He also vowed to expose the Congress’ 420 broken promises, as farmers’ anger mounts over the Palamuru betrayal.
He congratulated the grassroots representatives and said their victory had infused renewed confidence and energy into the party. He alleged that the Congress government was indulging in diversionary politics. It has failed to answer the serious questions raised by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on irrigation projects and governance.
He challenged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to stop leaking stories from behind the scenes and come openly before the cameras to declare what cases he intends to file. “You are the Home Minister as well. If you have courage, come forward and speak directly instead of hiding behind chit-chats and leaks,” he said.
Coming down heavily on the Congress government’s handling of Krishna river waters, Rama Rao said the Chief Minister lacked even basic knowledge of river water management. He slammed Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy for his statements on water issues and accused him of misleading the public while remaining completely disconnected from farmers’ needs.
He asserted that while K Chandrashekhar Rao had been strongly fighting for Telangana’s rightful share in Krishna waters, the Congress government had neither the competence nor the courage to respond. He alleged that the government was deliberately obstructing key irrigation projects such as the Palamuru–Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme.
“When BRS completed 90 per cent of the work, this government has wasted two years without completing even the remaining 10 per cent,” he said, adding that failure to submit DPRs and attempts to reduce project scope amounted to betrayal of Telangana’s interests.
On cooperative societies, he challenged the Congress government to immediately conduct elections if it truly believes it has done justice to farmers. He alleged that the government was terrified of facing elections due to public anger and was instead filling posts through nominated positions. “If elections are held, farmers will teach Congress a fitting lesson,” he warned.
The BRS working president said widespread anger was palpable among farmers and agricultural labourers and it was sufficiently reflected in the recent Sarpanch election results. He accused the government of abandoning promises such as Rythu Bandhu for tenant farmers, financial assistance to farm labourers, and other welfare commitments, and using case leaks against the former Chief Minister to divert attention from these failures.
He urged the party workers and functionaries to remain focused like Arjuna aiming at the bird’s eye, with complete attention on questioning the Congress government over its unfulfilled “420 promises”. He made it clear that BRS would not be intimidated by threats or cases and will continue its fight in the public domain until justice is delivered to Telangana’s farmers.
